Shloka 50

प्रणवार्थपद्धतिवर्णनम्

Methodical Explanation of the Meaning of Praṇava/Om

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा मुनिशार्दूलः पराशर्य्यो महातपाः । पूजितः परया भक्त्या मुनिभिर्वेदवादिभिः

Transliteration

sūta uvāca | ityuktvā muniśārdūlaḥ parāśaryyo mahātapāḥ | pūjitaḥ parayā bhaktyā munibhirvedavādibhiḥ

Translation

സൂതൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ഇങ്ങനെ പറഞ്ഞ ശേഷം, മുനിശാർദൂലനായ പരാശര്യ മഹാതപസ്വി, വേദവാദികളായ മുനിമാർ പരമഭക്തിയോടെ യഥാവിധി പൂജിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• सूतः: Sūta
• सूतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्शभूत/Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्धक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण-समाप्ति सूचक (quotative particle)

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• मुनि-शार्दूलः: tiger among sages (best sage)
• मुनि-शार्दूलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + शार्दूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मुनीनां शार्दूलः = best of sages)

• पराशर्यः: Parāśarya (descendant of Parāśara)
• पराशर्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पराशर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन; गोत्र/अपत्य-नाम

• महातपाः: great ascetic
• महातपाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् तपाः)

• पूजितः: was honored/worshipped
• पूजितः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन

• परया: with supreme
• परया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति; एकवचन; साधन/हेतु-भावे

• भक्त्या: devotion
• भक्त्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति; एकवचन

• मुनिभिः: by sages
• मुनिभिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति; बहुवचन

• वेद-वादिभिः: by those who expound the Veda
• वेद-वादिभिः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + वादिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति; बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वेदस्य वादी)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Suta
• Vyasa
• Parashara
• Sages

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It highlights that true spiritual transmission is received through humility and parā-bhakti—reverent devotion toward realized sages who embody and teach dharma and Śiva-tattva.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

Honoring a great ṛṣi who expounds the Vedas supports Saguna Śiva worship by grounding devotion in right understanding (śraddhā and śāstra), which then matures toward deeper realization of Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice guru-vandana and śāstra-satkara: respectfully listen to sacred discourse, offer mental worship (mānasa-pūjā), and cultivate devotion—optionally alongside japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).